A painting showing the paddle steamer ‘Great Western’ in a gale. Waves are shown breaking over her paddles and on to the deck. Her sails are down as she rides out the storm. Figures are shown on deck struggling against the weather to keep control of the ropes and masts, as lowering black clouds hover overhead.

The ship was designed by Brunel in 1838 and was the first of his three steam ships. With this ship Brunel proved it was possible to cross the Atlantic under steam sailing continuously to New York and arrive with several hundred tons of coal still in the bunkers.